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Commercial genetic profiling services should provide detailed information about test results: Report

Direct-to-consumer personal genetic profiling services that claim to predict people's health risks by analysing their DNA are often inconclusive and companies that sell them should provide better information about the evidence on which the results are based, says the UK Nuffield Council on Bioethics, in a new report on the ethics of so-called personalised healthcare services.

13 Oct 2010

Stanford medical school doctor, author teaches 'The art of the physicial'

The New York Times profiles physician, professor and author Dr. Abraham Verghese: "At Stanford, he is on a mission to bring back something he considers a lost art: the physical exam. The old-fashioned touching, looking and listening — the once prized, almost magical skills of the doctor who missed nothing and could swiftly diagnose a peculiar walk, sluggish thyroid or leaky heart valve using just keen eyes, practiced hands and a stethoscope.

13 Oct 2010

New 2010 clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Canada released

Today, Osteoporosis Canada released its 2010 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis in Canada, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The new guidelines represent a paradigm shift in the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures, moving the focus from treating low bone mineral density (BMD) to better identifying fractures caused by weakened bones (fragility fractures).

12 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 12, 2010

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations look at a probe of a California hospital chain, the effect that the governors' races around the country will have on the federal health law and a review of prescription purchases that shows more Americans are foregoing their medicines.

12 Oct 2010

$Photographic exhibition reveals devastating impact of spinal osteoporotic fractures$

Photographic exhibition reveals devastating impact of spinal osteoporotic fractures

At a press conference held in Brussels today, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the Belgian Bone Club and the European Parliament Osteoporosis Interest Group called on health care professionals and health policy officials in Europe to take action to prevent spinal fractures. The call to action was made at the launch of a unique photographic essay, 'snap! the breaking spine', leading up to World Osteoporosis Day on October 20, 2010.

12 Oct 2010

New data-driven strategy helps to reduce healthcare costs

As rising health care costs continue to outpace inflation, some companies are trying a new data-driven strategy, reports the October Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

12 Oct 2010

Proper treatment for scoliosis may help children to lead active lives

Scoliosis may sound like a frightening diagnosis, but proper treatment enables children with the condition to lead normal, active lives. Scoliosis refers to an abnormal curvature of the spine. Small curves are a normal part of spine anatomy and are not cause for concern, according to Dr. Daniel Green, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. But when the curvature exceeds a certain range, children require medical attention.

12 Oct 2010

Physician shortage expected to balloon to 91,500 in 2020

News outlets report on workforce issues, including the doctor shortage, Medicaid pay cuts and the effects of long work hours on medical residents.

12 Oct 2010

Embryonic stem cells used in first trial for spinal cord injury

The first ever patient to receive treatment in a U.S. government approved study involving human embryonic stem cells has been injected with millions of the potentially life saving cells. He is presently being treated at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. He was partially paralyzed following a spinal cord injury. The center specializes in treating these types of injuries.

11 Oct 2010

Baby born from 20 year old frozen embryo

A 42 year old mother gave birth to a baby born from an embryo frozen 20 years ago. This is the longest time a fertilized egg has been stored before developing into a healthy baby, and could eventually lead to thousands of women having children in middle age feel experts.

11 Oct 2010

ZeroNines launches ZenVault Medical Personal Health Record portal

ZeroNines® Technology, Inc. announced the launch of ZenVault™ Medical, a Personal Health Record portal (PHR) that gives consumers instant, secure, private access to their medical records online. ZenVault Medical was specifically designed to address the public's concerns over data security, privacy, convenience, and expense associated with the national push to convert from traditional paper to digital medical records.

11 Oct 2010

Tips to keep bones strong

October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day. Most people know that osteoporosis is a condition that affects many older women. Though osteoporosis isn't as common in men -- because most men have naturally larger and stronger bones -- they can get it, too.

11 Oct 2010

New natural dietary components inhibit breast cancer cells

Researchers at Indiana University and Methodist Research Institute have published the dramatic effects of a natural formula against breast cancer. The impressive results are found in the most recent publication of Integrative Cancer Therapies. Lead investigator Dr. Daniel Sliva says, The formula we studied inhibits growth of highly metastatic human breast cancer cells, and suppresses metastatic potential of these cells.

11 Oct 2010

Research-based tip sheets provide details on breast cancer

Throughout October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, experts from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its clinical care partner, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, are offering a series of weekly research-based tip sheets regarding a variety of topics related to breast cancer, including breast cancer prevention, screening and early detection, treatment, and survivorship.

11 Oct 2010

Doctors, med students face higher risks of suicide

News outlets report on workforce issues for doctors, including elevated suicide risk and hesitance to e-mail with patients.

11 Oct 2010

Abbott to withdraw sibutramine from Canadian market

Abbott will voluntarily withdraw sibutramine from the Canadian market after discussion with Health Canada. Sibutramine is marketed by Abbott in Canada as Meridia.

11 Oct 2010

DTC genetic tests require innovative approach to enter global market

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests available from retailers and the Internet let people learn about their genomes without going to a doctor, but they raise the question of who is responsible for oversight and regulation of these tests. Critics worry about safety risks if consumers base important lifestyle or medical decisions on inaccurate or misunderstood test results.

11 Oct 2010

UH researchers receive grant to develop Blue Scale device to track heart failure

As more and more medical care is provided in the home, health specialists say it is critical for people to be able to monitor themselves and make informed judgments about their health. A group of researchers in the Abramson Center for the Future of Health at the University of Houston (UH) received a $250,000 pre-seed grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) for a system that assesses cardiac function in the home and alerts the user to the need for intervention.

11 Oct 2010

Abbott to withdraw Meridia medicine from the U.S. market

Abbott will voluntarily withdraw Meridia (sibutramine) from the U.S. market at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

11 Oct 2010

Weight loss pill off shelves due to heart attack risk

Final verdict on a popular weight loss drug Reductil is to be delivered today. It is being debated whether the pill should be taken off the shelves in Australia and New Zealand. The drug Sibutramine sold as Reductil is linked to increased risk of heart attacks.

10 Oct 2010